Why it's called the Hunter's Moon
October's full moon is the Hunter's Moon — the first full moon after the Harvest Moon. With the fields cleared and game fattened on fallen grain, this was the sensible month to hunt and lay in winter meat, by bright moonlight over open stubble.
The Hunter's Moon in the sky
The Hunter's Moon inherits some of the Harvest Moon's early-rising behaviour, and by October it hangs low and often orange at rise — the year's most reliably dramatic moonrise, and the source of the old Blood Moon nickname.
What the Hunter's Moon means
Its theme is provisioning: converting the year's abundance into security for the dark months. In moon practice the Hunter's Moon is for consolidating — closing loops, storing value, choosing what comes into winter with you.
When is the next Hunter's Moon?
26 October 2026 at 04:12 UTC.
Why is it called the Hunter’s Moon?
It follows the Harvest Moon: fields were cleared, game was fattened, and the bright early-rising moon lit the traditional month for laying in winter meat.
Is the Hunter’s Moon the same as a Blood Moon?
Not in the modern sense. "Blood Moon" is an old nickname for this often-orange moonrise, but today the term usually means a total lunar eclipse.